Reviewing Random Films For Fun

April 21, 2015

Gimme Shelter (1970) #MovieReview

Film 165 in the “1001 Films to See Before You Die” challenge is 1970’s “Gimme Shelter”. This music documentary was directed by three people, Albert & David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, and looks at the last weeks of The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour which culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert. This felt like I was watching a Rolling Stones Live DVD until we got to Altamont. When we get to that part, that’s when it gets tough to watch. Because you know something bad is going to happen. And bad things did happen. People were killed. If there is anything good to note about the concert, I would love to know because I couldn’t find anything. It clearly was a complete disaster from start to finish. As someone who hasn’t been to a massive concert like this, Download, Leeds & Reading, Creamfields etc., does stuff like this happen? Let me know some of you concert memories in the comments. This film has taught me two things; one – how not to organise a concert. Two – don’t hire The Hell’s Angels to be your security. The only smart people to not go to Altamont were The Grateful Dead. They were there but pulled out at the last minute because of the amount of violence. Overall, I can’t recommend this unless you really want to see what happened at Altamont for yourself. If anyone wants a more detailed version of what happened then visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert. Fun Fact of the Film – George Lucas worked as a cameraman on the film, although his footage was not used in the end. If you have seen this film then let me know what you thought of it in the comments along with some of your concert memories. Here is what I had to say while watching 1970’s “Gimme Shelter”

Film – Gimme Shelter

Year – 1970

Director – Albert & David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin

Staring – The Rolling Stones

IMDb Rating – 7.9/10

My Rating – 6.5/10

Length – 91 min (1h 31min)

Genre – Documentary, Music

We open with The Rolling Stones riding donkeys on the motorway for a photo shoot

Now for a live version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”

Am I the only person who sees Mick Jagger dance as the type of dance you see your dad do when he’s drunk at a wedding

Also, is it me or Mick seems to have forgotten how “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” goes?

So… The band likes to watch their concerts back

4 births and 4 deaths at Altamont Free concert according to the radio

The organizer says this has hurt the concert

One of the Hells Angels, Sonny, says Mick Jagger is to blame for all the deaths

You touch my bike… You WILL die!

Is it bad that I’ve forgotten this person’s name?

Time for another song – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Is Keith Richard’s guitar see-through?

You can’t really say much when their performing

Time for Mick to try and pick up a woman while fighting through the feedback

Is this filmed in Madison Square Garden?

At a press conference, the band are asked if they feel satisfied

Mick just criticized himself

A free Rolling Stones gig in San Francisco – Bet that was big news in 1969

The owner of Altamont Free is on the phone with Rolling Stones’s manager

He wants Mick to pay for any damages they create

The manager suggest using high paid security to protect the band at Altamont Free

Thanks for staying at The Holiday Inn

At a music studio in Alabama, they listen to “Wild Horses”

No recording session is complete without beer

Any reason why we were looking at Keith’s snakeskin boots for so long?

Now we’re in the hotel… Let’s read the newspaper to “Brown Sugar”

Better escape the hotel via helicopter

Time for another live song

Back an at the studio and nothing is happening

Out of all the places to lie down, Keith chooses behind the mixing desk

Need more Jim Bean

You like my shirt? It’s Marilyn Monroe

Back at the meeting

Is that a drawing of a penis in the background?

I know it’s a charity gig but I still want my 10%

20/50,000 kids are already making their way to Altamont

Is Altamont bigger than Woodstock?

“This isn’t a concert! It’s an excuse for friends to get together and get stoned”

Ike and Tina Turner? What are you doing here? Anyway, time for them to perform “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”

While you do that, we’ll warm up backstage

Time for The Rolling Stones to perform “Love in Vain”

Back at the meeting again

The organiser wants The Rolling Stones to perform

Mr Carter has arrived to the meeting

150 x 80 = 12,000 cars can park on his speedway

That’s not enough as they have up to 50,000 more cars to park

Time for another song – I think it’s “Honky Tonk Woman” or “Street Fighting Man”

“The Rolling Stones free concert will be on tomorrow”

The original gig was meant to be at Golden Gate Park

400 volunteers are helping get the concert ready… By having a campfire and beers

How dare you try and grab at Mick’s legs!

Have a free basket!

Is parking always this difficult when concerts like this, Download, Leeds & Reading take place?

The Stones have arrived at Altamont via helicopter and are already mobbed

Did someone just punch Mick?

And they’ve brough The Hell’s Angels with them

Get off the scaffolding!

That is a massive bottle of booze

Don’t mind us taking a piss here

One man is selling LSD

One man, who’s really high on LSD, tries to be friends with the sound man

Turns out that the building of stage isn’t finished and 150,000 people are already here

Defend The Panther Party are taking donations

Someone has just given birth

Random naked woman has been picked up by two men

Can all the photographers and cameramen please leave! – If I was there, I would say no

Meanwhile, The Hell’s Angels are the only bit of entertainment these fans have

One fat naked Mexican seems happy to be here

Time for The Flying Buffalo Brothers to open up with “Six Days on the Road”

And it didn’t take long for fans to throw bottles, frisbies and bubbles at them

The Hell’s Angels just make their mark by attacking fans with pool cues

I know no one’s playing on stage but I brought a flute with me just incase

Mick wants to leave his trailer but he can’t

Now it’s time for Jefferson Airplane to perform “The Other Side of This Life”

He seems happy to be there

Naked woman!

Does taking a large amount of drugs make you want to strip?

And another fight has broken out but the drummer of Jefferson Airplane is still playing

Jefferson Airplane get into an arguement with The Hell’s Angels which causes more fights

More Hell’s Angels arrive on their bikes to annoy the crowd

And now it’s time for The Rolling Stones

Mick tells the crowd to keep calm before performing “Sympathy for the Devil”

It didn’t take long for fans and The Hell’s Angels to attack each other again

They stop the song so they can control the crowd

Let’s continue the song but that’s over with

This is getting hard to watch

One man can’t control 150,000 fans – Sorry Mick

All of you are banned from standing! Everyone sit down

More doctors are needed as during “Under My Thumb” someone has been stabbed

One of The Hell’s Angels has a gun

“It’s so horrible” – Mick as he watches the footage

Police arrived and everyone is scared

Lets get the hell outta here

We can’t leave without Keith’s guitar!

One more song, “Gimme Shelter” as we see fans leaving Altamont

THE ENDFilm 165 in the “1001 Films to See Before You Die” challenge is 1970’s “Gimme Shelter”. This music documentary was directed by three people, Albert & David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, and looks at the last weeks of The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour which culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert. This felt like I was watching a Rolling Stones Live DVD until we got to Altamont. When we get to that part, that’s when it gets tough to watch. Because you know something bad is going to happen. And bad things did happen. People were killed. If there is anything good to note about the concert, I would love to know because I couldn’t find anything. It clearly was a complete disaster from start to finish. As someone who hasn’t been to a massive concert like this, Download, Leeds & Reading, Creamfields etc., does stuff like this happen? Let me know some of you concert memories in the comments. This film has taught me two things; one – how not to organise a concert. Two – don’t hire The Hell’s Angels to be your security. The only smart people to not go to Altamont were The Grateful Dead. They were there but pulled out at the last minute because of the amount of violence. Overall, I can’t recommend this unless you really want to see what happened at Altamont for yourself. If anyone wants a more detailed version of what happened then visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert. Fun Fact of the Film – George Lucas worked as a cameraman on the film, although his footage was not used in the end. If you have seen this film then let me know what you thought of it in the comments along with some of your concert memories. Here is what I had to say while watching 1970’s “Gimme Shelter”

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Film – Gimme Shelter

Year – 1970

Director – Albert & David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin

Staring – The Rolling Stones

IMDb Rating – 7.9/10

My Rating – 6.5/10

Length – 91 min (1h 31min)

Genre – Documentary, Music

We open with The Rolling Stones riding donkeys on the motorway for a photo shoot

Now for a live version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”

Am I the only person who sees Mick Jagger dance as the type of dance you see your dad do when he’s drunk at a wedding

Also, is it me or Mick seems to have forgotten how “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” goes?

So… The band likes to watch their concerts back

4 births and 4 deaths at Altamont Free concert according to the radio

The organizer says this has hurt the concert

One of the Hells Angels, Sonny, says Mick Jagger is to blame for all the deaths

You touch my bike… You WILL die!

Is it bad that I’ve forgotten this person’s name?

Time for another song – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Is Keith Richard’s guitar see-through?

You can’t really say much when their performing

Time for Mick to try and pick up a woman while fighting through the feedback

Is this filmed in Madison Square Garden?

At a press conference, the band are asked if they feel satisfied

Mick just criticized himself

A free Rolling Stones gig in San Francisco – Bet that was big news in 1969

The owner of Altamont Free is on the phone with Rolling Stones’s manager

He wants Mick to pay for any damages they create

The manager suggest using high paid security to protect the band at Altamont Free

Thanks for staying at The Holiday Inn

At a music studio in Alabama, they listen to “Wild Horses”

No recording session is complete without beer

Any reason why we were looking at Keith’s snakeskin boots for so long?

Now we’re in the hotel… Let’s read the newspaper to “Brown Sugar”

Better escape the hotel via helicopter

Time for another live song

Back an at the studio and nothing is happening

Out of all the places to lie down, Keith chooses behind the mixing desk

Need more Jim Bean

You like my shirt? It’s Marilyn Monroe

Back at the meeting

Is that a drawing of a penis in the background?

I know it’s a charity gig but I still want my 10%

20/50,000 kids are already making their way to Altamont

Is Altamont bigger than Woodstock?

“This isn’t a concert! It’s an excuse for friends to get together and get stoned”

Ike and Tina Turner? What are you doing here? Anyway, time for them to perform “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”

While you do that, we’ll warm up backstage

Time for The Rolling Stones to perform “Love in Vain”

Back at the meeting again

The organiser wants The Rolling Stones to perform

Mr Carter has arrived to the meeting

150 x 80 = 12,000 cars can park on his speedway

That’s not enough as they have up to 50,000 more cars to park

Time for another song – I think it’s “Honky Tonk Woman” or “Street Fighting Man”

“The Rolling Stones free concert will be on tomorrow”

The original gig was meant to be at Golden Gate Park

400 volunteers are helping get the concert ready… By having a campfire and beers

How dare you try and grab at Mick’s legs!

Have a free basket!

Is parking always this difficult when concerts like this, Download, Leeds & Reading take place?

The Stones have arrived at Altamont via helicopter and are already mobbed

Did someone just punch Mick?

And they’ve brough The Hell’s Angels with them

Get off the scaffolding!

That is a massive bottle of booze

Don’t mind us taking a piss here

One man is selling LSD

One man, who’s really high on LSD, tries to be friends with the sound man

Turns out that the building of stage isn’t finished and 150,000 people are already here

Defend The Panther Party are taking donations

Someone has just given birth

Random naked woman has been picked up by two men

Can all the photographers and cameramen please leave! – If I was there, I would say no

Meanwhile, The Hell’s Angels are the only bit of entertainment these fans have

One fat naked Mexican seems happy to be here

Time for The Flying Buffalo Brothers to open up with “Six Days on the Road”

And it didn’t take long for fans to throw bottles, frisbies and bubbles at them

The Hell’s Angels just make their mark by attacking fans with pool cues

I know no one’s playing on stage but I brought a flute with me just incase

Mick wants to leave his trailer but he can’t

Now it’s time for Jefferson Airplane to perform “The Other Side of This Life”

He seems happy to be there

Naked woman!

Does taking a large amount of drugs make you want to strip?

And another fight has broken out but the drummer of Jefferson Airplane is still playing

Jefferson Airplane get into an arguement with The Hell’s Angels which causes more fights

More Hell’s Angels arrive on their bikes to annoy the crowd

And now it’s time for The Rolling Stones

Mick tells the crowd to keep calm before performing “Sympathy for the Devil”

It didn’t take long for fans and The Hell’s Angels to attack each other again

They stop the song so they can control the crowd

Let’s continue the song but that’s over with

This is getting hard to watch

One man can’t control 150,000 fans – Sorry Mick

All of you are banned from standing! Everyone sit down

More doctors are needed as during “Under My Thumb” someone has been stabbed